Exciting time for all the ‘27 dads looking at Big Lax High School!
At least until next spring when their kids realize they gave up their second sport to be one of 45 freshmen laxers.
Poor quarter zip dads, all drinking the koolaid.
Bit of advice- buy the sideline jacket from the team store. Those benches are COLD in March and April!
How many freshman parents will be crying and demanding answers to their kids fresh/soph placement after tryouts?
Freshman year is easy. All those kids have a spot on a team. It’s the SOPHS and JRS that get cut and wash out.
If your kid’s school has a freshman team, they are bringing in 50 lacrosse players kids a year. They don’t have plans for developing your kid. It’s an enrollment driver, nothing else.
Numbers don’t lie. Look at how many seniors are on varsity. Expect your kid to wash out.
John Carroll Debbie Downer....tell me your kid can't compete, without telling me your kid can't compete.
If you've ever coached, you know what kinds of kids wash out and for what reasons. And guess what, it happens it small "local community private schools" too, for the same reasons, and to the same kids. And HS coaching staff will develop kids a whole heck of a lot more than the lax clubs ever have, or ever will.
Some washout thoughts:
If he has played on LTLC or Breakers etc through 8th grade but you think school will magically "develop" him...he'll wash out.
If he tends to goof off at practices or cause the team to run laps.....he'll wash out.
If he has trouble keeping that 3.0 in middle school.....he'll wash out (or into another sport).
If he does not prepare for tryouts....he'll wash out.
If he does not do PT after injuries......he'll wash out.
If he thinks it's hilarious to antagonize the coaches...he'll wash out.
If he gets judicial referrals more than once a year....he'll probably wash out.
If he is just living out his dad's lax fantasy...he'll find an excuse on the list above to wash out.
If he is emotionally weak and can't get over the "insult" of getting cut from varsity in 9th grade...he'll wash out.
When those 150 kids show up to try out for 40-60 varsity sports, a solid 80 of those kids have the combination of "wanting to be there" and "having the basic talent to make it." The other 70, either don't have the skill/size, or aren't really committal about putting in the required effort to show out....or they are 9th graders.
If your kid cannot handle that grind, yes, you are being a good parent by not putting him through this. But it is exhausting to hear you keep shaming other parents for making the other choice.
